The Dallas Cowboys began the 2021 season with a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but they looked great overall. Despite the loss, there was a ton of excitement about this season with Dak Prescott returning alongside Ezekiel Elliott, Amari Cooper, and CeeDee Lamb all looking like legit healthy weapons. The defense was a concern, but DeMarcus Lawrence looked ready to lead that unit to the playoffs. That was until Lawrence broke his foot in practice and is now set to miss the next 6-8 weeks.
With Lawrence out due to injury and the Cowboys in a big year, how can they replace him? They can try free agency but aside from Olivier Vernon there isn't much talent available. Maybe they can replace Lawrence internally but there isn't anyone close to matching the talent level or upside that Lawrence brought. Maybe the best way to find a replacement is through trade. Let's go over two players the Cowboys could go for. One of them is more realistic but one instantly replaces the talent from Lawrence.
Two (2) DeMarcus Lawrence replacements Cowboys must trade for
Trade option #1: Dante Fowler
Fowler is an interesting option because of the upside he brings along with the uncertainty. He plays defensive end for the Falcons, a team that isn't going anywhere this season, and was very disappointing last season after a career year in 2019. Starting with his 2019 season, Fowler racked up 11.5 sacks with the Los Angeles Rams and also ranked 11th with 67 total quarterback pressures. This was the breakout season everyone was waiting for from the former third overall pick and this earned him a nice contract in Atlanta.
Before the 2020 season, Fowler signed a three-year, $45 million deal with the Falcons and he was set to be their star defensive end. Unfortunately for him and the Falcons, Fowler never got going and only ended up with 3.0 sacks while ranking 56th in pressures among edge rushers. The former top three pick fell off a cliff just one year after his big breakout year, but we all saw the potential.
If the Cowboys want to buy low on an expiring contract with massive potential then Fowler could be a good trade target to replace Lawrence. Another change of scenery might do Fowler some good after a disappointing season and the Falcons certainly aren't committed to him. The Cowboys should certainly check in on Fowlers availability as the Falcons continue to lose, pushing them towards selling off some key players on expiring contract. This team is headed towards a rebuild and the Cowboys need immediate help. Can the teams make a deal?
Trade option #2: Danielle Hunter
The sound you just heard was a bunch of Minnesota Vikings fans screaming in unison about how their team is going to the Super Bowl. The sad reality for the Vikings and their fans is just this isn't their year. Any year with Kirk Cousins and Mike Zimmer paired up won't be their year. The Vikings are headed towards an awkward conclusion to the Kirk Cousins and Mike Zimmer era as they seem likely to miss the playoffs for the third time in four years with Cousins at quarterback. It has to be time to move on from him and Zimmer eventually, right?
Minnesota has a three game stretch upcoming against the Cardinals, the Seahawks, and the Browns before taking on the Detroit Lions. After a rough loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1, it's a real possibility the Vikings start the season 0-4 which could result in some big changes. One of those big changes could be trading Danielle Hunter, who recently had his contract restructured, to the Dallas Cowboys. It won't happen this week or next, but it could in a few weeks and here's more reasoning for why.
Hunter had his contract restructured this past option and the restructuring basically forces the Vikings to make a decision with him after this season. The options for that decision are a mega extension, cutting him, or trading him. It's a super weird contract but that's the quick rundown. If Minnesota is headed for an inevitable rebuild with both Zimmer and Cousins likely on their last legs, why not make that decision with the 0-4 record in just a couple weeks? Making someone like Danielle Hunter available would get the Vikings a huge haul back which is exactly what every team entering a rebuild should want.
Hunter missed all of last season with a neck injury, but before that he was a premiere defensive end in the league. He had two straight seasons with 14.5 sacks in 2018 and 2019 before the injury and the Bengals were putting three guys on him at times in the Week 1 matchup. There are very few defensive ends as talented as Hunter and with things not looking good in Minnesota this could become a real possibility very quickly.
The Cowboys should be looking for a Lawrence replacement over the next couple weeks. Ideally they'd be able to plug someone in for this upcoming Week 2 matchup but that's just an unrealistic expectation with how these things go. Dallas has a legit shot at winning their division and getting back to the playoffs this season. They should go make a bold move.
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